MICHAEL JACKSON’S DEATH INVESTIGATION
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There continue to be more questions than answers as we approach the one-month mark since the pop icon’s death. Since Michael Jackson’s autopsy reports are delayed, headlines go from those concerning Rupert Everett comments to the secret son of Michael Jackson.
In other news, the Los Angeles Times reported today a security breach involving staff members at the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Department. Six employees improperly viewed Michael Jackson’s death certificate hundreds of times in the two weeks immediately following the pop star’s death. Also, the Armstrong Medical Clinic, the clinic of Jackson’s personal cardiologist, Dr. Conrad Murray was raided yesterday. Dr. Murray has already been questioned twice by the Los Angeles Police Department and about three dozen officers participated on a search that ended up seizing a computer hard drive and more than 20 documents.
Two autopsy results are still pending and authorities are investigating several doctors and going after records that could shed light on Jackson’s death. Michael Jackson’s cause of death is still a mystery and the results of his autopsy probably won’t be known for another two weeks. Toxicology reports are going to become very important and results need to be interpreted in context of the artist medical history.
Jackson’s family members fear foul play whereas investigators are focusing on propofol (brand name Diprivan). Could propofol have played a role in Michael Jackson’s death? Are prescription drugs to blame or a mix of drugs? Did doctors play any role on Jackson’s death?
A psychiatric autopsy might also be performed. This type of study can provide clues about Jackson’s mental state prior to death.
Stay tuned, we will be posting updates.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:46 am
I hope this wasnt a real crime well see….
August 2nd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
The death of Michel Jackson is quite a sad event, and to me more sad it is that the medical community that indirectly cooperate with his wrong ideas about treatment for pains. I guess money sometimes can buy many things …..even the most pure ethical principles of those who the power were given to cure people, and not to kill people with the mix-use of drugs. However, Mr. Jackson was free to find out what was best for him. Too bad, and love his music!!!!
What I can think of this event, it would bring many changes and new legislation regarding the use of llegal drugs.
What society needs to avoid cases this one, a super computer system! I guess will be more jobs in the field of forensic computer monitor legal drugs than illegal drugs!
Please Jackson Family, accept my most sincere condolences on the loss of Michael, the kid of pop music, America’s son!
August 25th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Just recently, the death of the pop icon Michael Jackson has been associated with an overdose of the injectable anesthetic agent propofol. The medical use of propofol includes the induction of general anesthesia in children and adults, short-term sedation, and in veterinary medicine for sedative and anesthetic purposes. It appears that in the case of Michael Jackson, the attending physician has used propofol in a non-medical manner to induce sleep since the king of pop was suffering from sleep disturbances. However, according to the media reports, propofol was given on top of a long list of other medications - mostly benzodiazepines and therefore might have increased the risk of multiple organ failure. As might have been the case with Michael Jackson, the chronic and continued (ab-)use of propofol (propofol infusion syndrome) can lead to metabolic derangement that in the end might have caused cardiac arrest due to massive release of catecholamines. What a tragic end for one of the great musicians of our time.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:01 am
You must wonder what else was tried before the decision was made to use Propofol……….. I can think of over a dozen agents used as hypnotics from hydroxyzine to chloral derivatives to paraldehyde to BDZs to barbiturates……….talk about using a sledgehammer to kill a mosquito……
November 7th, 2009 at 2:40 am
that’s really a fantastic post ! ! added to my favourite blogs list..
November 10th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Michael Jackson would be alive, were it not for this wildly irresponsible,stupid, incompetent,unethical dr Murray.MJ was a known insomniac,and this was most likely made worse by the stress he was under.There are sleepdisorder centers that do help people with this problem, when longstanding it leads to depression and possibly other psych.problems.It would not surprise me if this didnt play a role in his addictions.In the autopsy no drugs other than the ones given by dr Murray were found, none of them
illegal and not sc street drugs.However the way they were administered by dr Murray was pretty much illegal.Propofol is to be administered only in hospital settings or well equipped clinics for the purpose of anaesthaesia.Only anaesthetists or dr´s specilists in EMT are qualified to administer it.Once given the patient has to be monitored continuously and all equipment for promt CPR ,including that for intubation has to be available on site.As has been documented above he was given a litany of other drugs ,including lidocaine(which is often given to reduce local pain)
However these meds do increase the risks of bradycardia(decreasing of heart beat)cardiac arrythmia,shock & respiratory failure.The metabolic derangement mentioned above by Oliver Grundmann is a serious complication,( one I didn´t know of, as it is decades since I did an internship in anaes
thesiology).It is tragic that it all ended in an untimely death when many and no doubt wellpaid physicians were involved.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Ihis is a response to Oliver Grundmann.You mentioned the propofol-infusion syndrome causing multiple organ failure by an excess release of catecholamines.
I am not familiar with the syndrome ,but do know about catecholamines.They play a significant role in CNS-functioning.Is it possible that longterm administration of propofol could lead to an excess of catecholamines on the CNS? If so this would have far reaching implications upon the mental and psychiatric state of a person.Or could a single high dose(or high level in ciculation) have this effect?
I searched the net for info,but didn´t find anything re effect on the CNS.Now 2 a bit of`theorising´´it could have a paradoxical effect leadind to lack of sleep over time,and generally to a hyperaroused state
as result of abnormally hign catecholamines. Somebody very knowleable in neurochemistry-biology might be able to answer these questions.I hope you find this comment and can give some answers.